Mechanically-actuated acoustic diaphragm.



PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908.

No. 883,643. M. HUTUHISON.

MEOHANIGALLY AGTUATBD ACOUSTIC DIAPHRAGM.

APPLIOATION FILED H0126, 1907.

VIA W, 7/ a INVENTOR SON, a citizen of UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

"MILL R REESE HUTOHISON; or SUMMIT, NEWJERSEY.

MnonanIoALLmAcruA'rEn ACOUSTIC DIAPHRAGM.

No. 883,643. g

Specification of Letters Patent" Patented March-31, 1908.

Original application filed May 16. 1907, Serial No. 373,946. Divided and this application filed November 26,1907.

, Serial No. 403,932. 4 v

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MILLER REESE IIUToHI- theUnitcd States, and a residentof Summit, in the county of' Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Me chamcally-A'ctuated Acoustic Diaphragms, of

which the following is a specification.

v the broad 'is-necessar for the pehr l. .1 bit- This invention relates to signals or alarms, a'rticularly such as are intended to perform unctions similar to those of fog signals, boat whistles, automobile horns, etc.

It relates particularly to that class of such in which the sound wave is .4 fgnals or alarms igg generated by a diaphra m adapted for forciole bodily displacement ymechanical means. In one of my prior applications, Ser. N 0. 305,933, filed March 14, 1906, I have disclosed and have made-broad claims to the basic features of the mechanically displaced diaphragm alarm orsignal, and also claims for the broad combinations in such devices of a cam as the actuating member for effecting the forcible bodily displacement of the diaphragm. Insaid prior applications, I have disclosed and claimed various forms of cone nection whereby'r 0t 1B1 driving member to the dia hragm so as to produce a signal of great voiiune without causing ex.- cessive wear and tear.

filed May 16th, 1907, I have shown and deelatively great ower may Furthermore, in my. more recent application, Serial No. 373,5)4i6,

scribed the specific details of construction,

my present application is 'a division of'said appl cation Serial No. 373,946, and is intentionall limited to certain specific features. T e various broadjcombinations and inventions are claimed in theseveral prior applications referred to.- y

In' devices of the above type, it is desirable to mechanically apply the power in such manneras to" insure high velocity and reat amplitude of bodily displacement in a c irecfipn perpendicular to the diaphragm and at We same time to minimize the production herein shown, and it is to be understood'that and destructive effects of vibratory stresses in other dlre'ctions. When suchdevices are made of ample proportions and capable of utilizingconsiderab e amounts of power, as above described purposes the forcib e bodily displacement of the 'dia- ,ay be -simply and economicall cfof adriving member wjch-l may or may not move in a directionexactl normal to the surfaceof the diaphragm; 1 1 the ower of the driving-member is applied to t e diaphragm through the medium of a cam projection having a movement across the face of the diaphragm at the point of contact therewith, as iii-the case ofa rotary cam, the direct-frictional wear and concus sion of the cam may be resisted 'byfor ming or providing the, diaphragm with. a wear piece which may be an-anvil with a face of ardened steel. I have; discovered, however, that there may be a further destructive effect of concussion or vibration as wellias of localized bending due to the; velocity and amplitude'of the forcible bodily displacement, y which effects the metal of the diaphra m may be quickly fatigued and ru tured. T is seems to be due to the fact t at notwithstanding all refinemen s of adaptation of shape and construction4o driving member toaction, which I havefound results from violent localized bending and other effects of the high velocit movement and vibrations of the parts w ere the contact faces are plane and their peripheral edges sharp. The rounding of the edges or convexing of the surfaces of the contact of the HIIVilXVith the diaphragm, is

sides which lie in the direction of transverse movement of a driving member, and the con-' vexing may be decreased or even omitted in directions at right angles thereto; but it is usually preferable to extend the rounding or beveling m ore or less uniformly around a complete annulus extending a greater or less distance toward the center of each clamping face.

'A second feature of my invention consists in .a special arran formed with a toug ture, the fibers being ement of a diaphragm grain or fibrous strucapproximately parallel eds, and of progive rise to various localcontact with the diaphragm so asto prevent fatigue and cutting especially important on the loo . is in a direction at right angles to the fiber,

with each other and with thevs'urfac'e of the diaphragm. A suitable material for such a diaphragm is steel of finequality formed by the rolling process. Such material is very much tougher in any other direction than it and one feature of my invention consists in so arrangm'g matters as to make certain. that where thedirectlon of movement of the driving member has any lateral componentnot normal to the dia hragrn, such component or components will take effect in the general direction of the fiber, rather than transversely thereto. a While I fully show, describe, and oint out in the appended claims certain nove features of construction, arrangement, and operation which characterize .my' invention, it will-be understood by those skilled in the art that various omissions, substitutions, andchangesv in the forms, proportions, sizes, anddetails of the device and of, its operation, may be made without departing from the terms of my claims. I I

.My invention will be more fully understood in connection-with the accompanying havin drawings, in which i Figure 1' is a section taken on the line Fig. 2 Fl 2 is a section on the li'n'ey-y,

30 Fig. 1, an Fig. 3 is-a face viewbf the diaphragm showingv the anvil in plan; s

Th diaphragm 1 may be of'any suitable material, but is )referably oftoughmetal, and if ofcorrodible material, maybe formed or provided with a protective covering. The

diaphragm need not be ofpure iron,- because V it, is not intended for purposes involving electric or magneticactionlfind that fine quality sheet steel isa good material. .The "rolling process gives a hard surface finish tending to resist corrosion. I have discovcred that rolled steels having-a fibrous structure such as vanadium, nickel, or nickel- .chrome steel, particularly those varieties crysta axing tendency are very satisfactory rr'iaterials, when arranged and used in accordance with my invention.

Since the diaphragm is intended for high velocity operat'longiving rise to relatively great instantaneous stresses, it is preferably madelofample diameter and thickness. It is provided with special means for it against. damage by-action' of t chamber which applies the power'thereto.

As shown in the (.l-rawing, the power is-applied ,through contactwit'h. orimpact mien a wearjpiece 2 ofanvilZ. This is prefers ly a separate piece of self-hardening steel,- suitablysecured to the dia hragm and not integra therewith.- Oneeature of my-inv'ention consistsin special construction of means.

for attaching the anvil to its diaphragm-L The connection consists of a projection or shank 3, extending through a perforation-4,

aces as well as'rounding o anvil securing members, the bending efiectsv great elasticity anddreedom from.

protecting e driving in the diaphragm, and secured on the backside thereof and preferably by permanently upsetting or deforming one of the engaging members, as by iiveting-the'material of the 'cured to the diaphragm,=it"1s extremely im-' port'ant that-theedges of the faces of the two coeperating members adjacentthe diaphragm, be rounded as at '6 andjpre fera'bly convexed or beveled off, as at '6, in-order to prevent the above described destructive ac tion on the diaphragm, which would result from sharp edges and in less degree from lane faces. By convexifi or beveling the the edges of the and vibratory stresses are less localized and are caused to take effect more gradually, being spread outin such manner as to effectually cushion their violence and lessen their d'e structiveeffe'cts without decreasing the amplitude orvelocity of the bodily displace ment of the diaphragm. This feature is of great advantage-even Where the driving member delivers its power in a direction, ex-

actly perpendicular to the dia hragm. The

convexm or beveling off of t e edges may be varie both in degree and in its extent aboutthe periphery or toward. the'shank 31 Preferably, however, the rounding or beveling iscarried' back on a strai ht or convex bevelforrning afiat truncate cone or segment of a sphere extendingnearly or quite to the shank 3, The form and extent of the variation'from a-true plane byconvexingor beveling will vary somewhat with the size,

stiffness and amplitude of vibration of the diaphra m'; but one skilled in the art will understan that the'space for play of the diaphragm at theffreeedg'es of the anvil securing I surfaces, will preferably be sufficient to avoid too localized or abru t bending of the diaphragm, evenwhen it is cut by the driv- 1 ing to the extremelimit for which it is designed. In actual'pra'ctice, theangle of the.

beveling or curvature of the convexing is usuallv less than that indicated in the draw- 7 ings. g

A convenient form of'anvilZ consists of a small cylinder 2 of self-hardenln steel fitted into a recess band-there secure( in any desired manner, as by upsetting or'riveting down lips 8, 9, preferably sosecurelyas i '5 p to prevent all possibility of rotary or of end- Wise movement ofthe cylinder. By makin these li s 8, 9 and the shank 3 of one integrafi .chanically driven diaphragm, regardless of whether the diaphragm is formed of a homoso relating the anvil to the dia hragm that the geneous structureless material, or one having a distinct gram. Where the metal has a grain, there is another feature of my invention which consists in a special directional "relation between the grain of the dia hragm and the direction of presentation of'th Indeed, the di- 'rection of the grain is equally important,

e wear piece to its drlvmg member.

whether the wear piece or anvil is av separate iece'secured to the dia hragm or is formed integrally with the dia ra m. I have discovered that where t e iaphragm is of rolled steel or similar grained material and the, contact lines of the wear surface or anvil are parallel with the grain or fiber of the steel,

the diaphragm is more likely to crack or wear out, and one part of my invention consists in impact surface is presente to its driving member in the general direction of the grain,

so that when the cam or other driving member strikes the anvil, any vibratory stresses in directions other than normal to the lane of the diaphragm, may take effect in directions of greater, rather than less strength'of fiber. In Fig, 3 of the drawing, I have indicated by parallel broken lines the general direction of trend of the grain of the fiber of the. diaphragm. It will be noted that the wear or anvll surfaces are presented forimpact in the direction of the grain of the metal,

the long straight-line elements of the wear surfaces of the cylinder being directed transversely of the fiber. If the wear surface is integral with the diaphragm, the directional relation of im act with respect to the grain of the metal Wlll be the same as above.

The surface of engagement between the diaphragm and the anvil or its securing means may be formed or arranged to tightly clamp the dia hragm at the center. and to leave an annu ar space for play of the diaphragm engaging faces of the securing members at the freeedges thereof. I have found, however, that securing members originally formed so as to have a tight clamping engage-s ment at the centersometimes work loose, or may intentionally be arranged loosely, if so desired; but even in the latter case, if the free edges are suitably rounded, or are of sufficiently soft material so as not to have a cutting action, the device will operate satisfactorily, but the annular .s ace for suchplay of the diaphragm should e predetermined the diaphragm, such wear piece comprising clamping members on opposite sides of the diaphragm, secured in position by a tension member extending through a perforation in the diaphragm, one or more surfaces of engagement between the diaphragm and clamping members being relieved or cut away to ward the periphery so as to have a decreased clampin engagement from the perforation outwardly when the diaphragm is in normal position, and to have an increased engage ment with the concave surface ofsaid diaphragm as it is flexed by application of ower through said impact or wear piece, su stantially as and for the purpose described.

2.- An acoustic diaphragm and an attached impact or wear piece for receiving and transmittin mechanically applied )OWBI to forcibly ex the diaphragm, sucli wear piece comprising diaphragm engaging members on opposite sides of the diaphragm, secured in position by a tension member extending through a perforation in the diaphragm, one or more surfaces of engagement between the diaphragm and the engaging members being relieved or cut away toward the periphery so as to have a decreased engagement near the free edges when the diaphragm is in normal position, andto have an increased engagement with the concave surface of said dia phragm asit is flexed by application of power through said impact or wear piece, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. An acoustic diaphragm and an attached impact or wear piece for receiving and transmitting mechanically applied ower to forcibly flex the diaphragm, S1101 wear piece comprising diaphragm engaging members on opposite sides of the diaphra m, secured in position by a tension mem er extending through a perforation in the dia hragm, the

diaphragm engaging theface of t e impact or wear piece being relieved or cut away toward the free edges so as to have an increased engagement with the-"concave surface of said diaphragm when it'is flexed application of power through said impact on wear piece,

substantially as and for the purpose de-..

scribed; 1; 1

4. An acoustic diaphragm, consisiing of a sheet of rolled steel and an attached impact or wear piece for securing andtr'ansmitting mechanically applied power tofoi' cibly flex the diaphragm, such wear piec jcomprising clamping members on opposite sides of the diaphragm, secured in position by a tension by ,and made approidrnately proportional to 1 memberextending through a perforation in through p g,diaphragmengaging members on oping a fibrous or grained structure and said the diaphragm, the edges of the diaphragm engaglng face being rounded so as to revent abrupt. flexing or cutting action w en the diaphragm is flexed by application of ower said impact or wear piece, su stantially as and for the purpose described. V

5, An acoustic diaphragm and an attached impact'or wear piece for receiving and transmitting mechanically applied powerto forcibly flex the diaphragm, such wear piece comprising opposite sides of the diaphragm, secured in position by a. tension member extending through a perforation in the diaphragm, .the

5 edges of the diaphragm engaging face being rounded so as to prevent abrupt flexing or cutting'action when the diaphragm is flexed by application of ower through said impact or wear iece, su stant-ially as and forthe purpose escribed. v j

6. An acoustic diaphragm andan attached impact or Wear piece forreceiving and transmitting mechanically'applied power to forcibly flex the diaphragm, such wear piece comprising diaphragm engaging members on opposite sides of the diaphragm, secured in position by a tension member extending through a perforation in the diaphragm,fthe edges of the diaphragm engaging faces being rounded so as to prevent abrupt flexing or cutting action when the diaphragm is flexed by application of ower through said impact or Wear iece, said diaphragm being formed of metal aving a fibrous or grained structure and said impact or wear piece having its im pact or wear surface extending transversely of the general direction of trend of the fiber 0f the metal, so that said surface is presented for engagement or impact in a direction of greater strength of the metal, substantially as and for the pur ose described.

' 7. An acoustic iaphragm and an attached impact or wear piece for receiving and trans-- mitting mechanically applied power to forcibly flex the diaphragm, such wear piece com posite sides of the iaphragm and a tension member extending through a perforation in the diaphragm and upset or riveted as to prevent a brupt flexing or. cuttiru action when the diaphragm is flexed by application of ower through said impact or wear piece,

said diaphragm being formed of metal havimpact or wear piece'having-its impact or wear surface'extending transversely of the general d rection of trendof the fiber of the metal, so that said surface is presented for en agement or impact in a direction of greater strength of the metal, substantially as and v for the'purpose described. r i H 8. rn accustic diaphragm, consisting of a diaphragm, engaging members on as it is flexed by application of to holdsaid partsin position, the edges of the diaphragm en aging face being roundedso sheetof rolled steel and an attached impact or wear piece for receiving and transmitting mechanically applied power to forcibly flex the diaphragm, such wear piece, comprising clamping surfaces on opposite sides of the diaphragm, and a tension member extending through a perforation in the diaphragm and upsetor riveted to hold said parts in position, the edges of an element at the diaphragm engaging face being rounded so as to prevent abrupt flexing or cutting action when the diapi'iragm is flexed by application of power through said impact or wear piece,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. An acoustic diaphragm, consisting of a sheet of rolledsteel and an attached impact or wear piece for receiving and transmitting mechanically applied power to forcibly flex the, diaphragm, such wear piecc'comprising clamping members on opposite sides of the diaphragm, secured in position by atensionmember. riveted throng a perforation in the diaphr gm, one or more surfaces of engage ment between the diaphragm and the clam ping members being relieved or cut away tow ard the free edge of the clamps) as to have a decreased clamping action'toward the free edges when the dlaphragm is in normal position, and to have an increased engagement with the concave surface of said diaphragm ow er through said impact or wear piece, su and for the purpose described.

10. An acoustic diaphragm consisting of a shcetof elastic metal and an impact or wear piece fixed in position for receiving and transmitting mechanically applied power to forcibly flex said diaphragm, the diaphragm en gaging surface of said impact or being slightly beveled or convexed away from the normal face of the diaphragm so as stantially as.

wear .piece to engage the dia hragrn o er a given areawhen in its nor-ma posltion, and then over a larger area as it is concaved by forcible application of the power through said impact or'wear (piece, substantially as and for the purpose escribpd.

clamping members on opposite sides of the A11 acoustic diaphragm, consisting of a sheet of elastic netal and an attached impact or wear piece for receiving and transmitting applied power to foribly flex diaphragm, secured in position by a tension member extending through a perforation in f cliap ragm and clamp being formed and rran-ged go as to clamp the diaphragm adjacent theperforation thercthrough, and to present an' outer annular spa ce slightly convexed so'that the surfaces of contact will come into contact over a gradually inbreasge dia hragm,,the surfaces of engagement ing area-and thereby produces cushioning effect when said diaphragm is forcibiy flexed by application of ower through said impact or wear piece, su stantially as and. for the purpose described.

12. An acoustic diaphragm, consisting of a sheet of rolled steel, an impact or wear piece for securing and transmitting mechanically. applied power to forcibly flex the diaphragm and means for securing the impact or Wear piece in operative relation'to the diaphragm,

metal having a fibrous or grained. structure,

and provided with a Wear or impact. element having a surface extending transversely of the general trend of the grain of the metal, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

14. An acoustic diaphragm-formed of rolled steel, and provided with a wearv or impact element having a surface extending transversely of the general trend of the fiber of the steel, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

15. An acoustic diaphragm formed of rolled steel, and provided with an anvil riveted thereto with its wear surface presented for engagement or impact in the direction of trend of the grain of the diaphragm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. An acoustic diaphragm, consisting of a a sheet of elastic metal provided with an impact or'wear piece for receiving and transmitting mechanically applied power to forcibly flex the diaphragm, said impact or wear piece being formed with hard surface for lmpact or wear, and a malleable metal, sur' face engaging the diaphragm, the center of the diaphragm engaging face of said'im- 7 ing rounded so as to when therliap act or wear piece being attached to said iaphragm an the free' edges hereof berevent a rupt flexing or cutting action w ien the diaphragm is flexed by application, of power through saidimpact or wear piece, substantially as and for the purpose described.

1'7. An'acousticdiaphragm, consisting of a sheet of rolled steel andan attached impact or wear piece for receiving and transmitting mechanically applied power to forcibly flex the diaphragm, such wear piece comprising malleable metal clamping surfaces on opposite sides of the diahragm, and a tenslon 'member extending t lrough a perforation in the diaphragm and upset orriveted to hold said parts in position, the edges of the diahragm engaging face being rounded so as to firevent abrupt flexing or cutting action iragm is flexed by application of power through said impact or wear piece, substantially as and for the purpose described.

1 18. An acoustic diaphragm consisting of a a sheet .ofelastic metal and an impact or wear concaved by forcible application ofthe ower through said impact or wear piece, su stantially as and for the pur ose described.

19'. An acoustic diap ragm consisting of a sheet of hard elastic metalprovided with an anvil of malleable metal and a hard metal element having a Wear surface, said anvil being formed with a recess containing such hard metal element held therein by u setting and having a shank riveted throug a perforation in the diaphragm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

20. An acoustic diaphragm consisting of a sheet of hard elastic metal rovided with an anvil of malleable metal an a hard metal element having a wear surface, said anvil being formed with a recess containing such hard metal element held therein by upsetting and having a shank riveted-through a perforation in the diaphragm, the diaphragm engaging face or faces being tightly clamped to the diaphragm adjacent the perforation, but out of contact therewith at the free edges, substantially as and for the purpose described.

21. An acoustic diaphragm consisting of a sheet of hard elastic metal, provided with an sheet of hard elastic metal, provided-with an anvil of malleable metal and a hard metal cylinder, said anvil being formed with a cylindrical recess containing such hard metal cylinder held therein by u setting of the metal of said anvil one side 0 such cylinder being exposed, an integral shank projectingfrom said. anvil being riveted against a washeron the rear side of said diaphragm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

23. An acoustic diaphragm, consisting of i a sheet of hard elastic metal, provided with an attached impact or wear piece forreceiving and transmitting mechanically applied power to forciblv flex the diaphragm, such wear piece comprising clamping members on opposite sides of'the diaphragm, secured in position by a tension member extending through a perforation in the diaphragm, the

surface ofengagement between the diaphragm and clamplngmembers being formed and arranged so as to tightly clamp the diaphragm at the center and to leave an "annular space. for play of the diaphragm between the clamp ing surfaces at the free edges of the latter,

the space for such play being predetermined by and approximately proportional to the maximum roposed amplitude of vibration of the diaphragm when in use, substantially as and for the purpose described.

24. In an acoustic diaphragm formed of metal having a fibrousor grained structure,

- provided with an anvil secured thereto by riveting and having its impact or wear surface presented for engagement or im act in the direction of trend of. the grain of t e diaphragm, said anvil having a diaphragm engaging face formed and arranged to clamp the diaphragm adjacent the point of attachment, but beveledor rounded ofi toward the ledge which lies in the direction of the trend ofthe grain of the diaphragm, substantially as and for the purpose described. 25. An acoustic diaphragm and an attached impact or wear piece for receiving and in position by transmitting mechanically applied power to mum proposed amp itude of vibration of the diaphragr when in use, substantiallyas and for the pulppose described.

j26.'An acoustic diaphragm and an attached impact or Wear'piece for receiving a and transmitting mechanically applied power to forcibly -flex .the diaphragm, such wear piece comprising diaphragm engaging memas and forth hragm between th e and 1nea n* roportional to. the mane phragm engaging surfaces at the free edges of the diaphragm engaging members, the

predetermined by space for such play being and approximately proportional to the maximum proposed amplitude of vibration of the diaphragm when in use, substantially as and lorthe purpose descrlbed. I

27. An acoustic diapl iragm, formed cf relatively thick rolled sheet vanadium steel,

provided with an attached impact or wear plece for receiving and transmitting mechan: cally appliedpower to forcibly flex the diaphragm, such wear piece comprising a diaphragm engaging member having a diaphragm engaging face metal, substantially as described.

28. An acoustic aphragm, formed of relatively thick rolle sheet vanadium steel, provided with an a tached in'ipactor wear piece for receiving nd transmitting mechanically applied pow/er tp forcibly flex the diaphragm, such w ar piece comprising a dis phragm engagi g member having a dia phragm engaging face made of malleable metal and rou ded at the edges,

nd for the purpose purpose described.

v29. An a aou'stic diaphragm, formed of relatively thick rolled sheet vanadium steel, for applying pou'er tosaid diaphragm t forcibly fie); the same, said means comprisi g a diaphragm engaging member made of malleable iron, substantially as and for the purpose described.

Sig! ed at New York city in the county of New 1' ork and State of New Yorkthis 16th f November A. D. 1907. a

'iade of malleable H substantially MILLER amiss nurcmson; I?

)Witnesses: a

(1. O. SNYDER, Iavmu M. Onamen'r. 

